Building Pathways in Architectural Education: Educating the Un‐Architect

Abstract Architectural education faces mounting pressure to rethink its pedagogies in response to technological, environmental and social change. Inspired by Allan Kaprow's concept of the ‘un‐artist’ (1971), this article introduces the un‐architect as a transdisciplinary, reflexive practitioner who resists institutional hierarchy, values process over product and treats architecture as civic practice. Drawing on historical and contemporary shifts in pedagogy, and through theoretical analysis and selected case studies, the article argues that architectural education must move beyond specialisation and commodified knowledge towards integrative, ethically grounded learning centred on community engagement, ecological responsibility and participatory design. It calls for a redefinition of architectural education as a space of critical inquiry and shared authorship—where learning is co‐creation rather than instruction—and positions the un‐architect as a position for cultivating adaptability, creativity and social consciousness indispensable for navigating the complexities of 21st‐century practice.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Art & Design Education
Published
2026-09-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jade.70050
Primary Topic
Educational Environments and Student Outcomes
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Building Pathways in Architectural Education: Educating the Un‐Architect

Esen Gökçe Özdamar
International Journal of Art & Design Education
Educational Environments and Student Outcomes
article

Building Pathways in Architectural Education: Educating the Un‐Architect

Esen Gökçe Özdamar
article en

Abstract

Abstract Architectural education faces mounting pressure to rethink its pedagogies in response to technological, environmental and social change. Inspired by Allan Kaprow's concept of the ‘un‐artist’ (1971), this article introduces the un‐architect as a transdisciplinary, reflexive practitioner who resists institutional hierarchy, values process over product and treats architecture as civic practice. Drawing on historical and contemporary shifts in pedagogy, and through theoretical analysis and selected case studies, the article argues that architectural education must move beyond specialisation and commodified knowledge towards integrative, ethically grounded learning centred on community engagement, ecological responsibility and participatory design. It calls for a redefinition of architectural education as a space of critical inquiry and shared authorship—where learning is co‐creation rather than instruction—and positions the un‐architect as a position for cultivating adaptability, creativity and social consciousness indispensable for navigating the complexities of 21st‐century practice.

International Journal of Art & Design Education
Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University (TR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Educational Environments and Student Outcomes
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Building Pathways in Architectural Education: Educating the Un‐Architect — Esen Gökçe Özdamar · International Journal of Art & Design Education (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS